The Renewable Energy Honeymoon: Starting is Easy, The Rest is Hard

The belief that Australia can decarbonise its economy by relying on the wind and the sun rests on a misplaced conviction about what the renewables rollout will entail. Advocates point to the increase in wind and solar from 1.5% of our electricity share in 2010 to around 33% today as a success, and evidence that the buildout can be further accelerated to achieve nearly twice this rollout in one-third the time, to meet targets set for 2030. This assumption is flawed. The intrinsic nature of uncontrollable, weather-dependent energy introduces faster growth in costs at higher penetrations, which mean the rollout gets harder as it proceeds, rather than easier. What we have experienced thus far is the renewable energy ‘honeymoon’ period, during which things were unnaturally simple. The true nature of the longer journey is one of formidable challenges, which we are only beginning to encounter

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Zoe Hilton is a Senior Policy Analyst at the Centre for Independent Studies in Australia, working in the Energy Program. She co-authored the energy team’s flagship paper The six fundamental flaws underpinning the energy transition and has written for The Australian, The Australian Financial Review and The Spectator Australia on the costs of renewables and nuclear energy. She also contributes to the energy debate through YouTube videos exploring energy policy and modelling. Zoe previously worked in the NSW Government as a Senior Policy Advisor to the Minister for Enterprise, Investment & Trade and Science, Innovation & Technology. This included overseeing government strategy and grant program design and launch for research, commercialisation and investment attraction. She managed policy issues across a range of areas, including universities, science, technology, investment, trade, the 24-hour economy, aerospace, defence, international education and skilled migration. Zoe has a passion for working at the intersection of science and policy. She previously conducted research and wrote policy proposals to government on energy, climate, and the environment. Zoe developed a keen interest in how behaviour influences complex systems through her study of science and arts at the University of Sydney.